The Sunday herald., 1887-01-16
JOHN BENDER'S HAPPY
CHRISTMAS.

Jack Bender felt very much relieved upon
reaching home rather late one Christmas
Eve to find that his wife had accompanied
the children TO juvenile party in the
neighborhood. The fact was that the poor
fellow had been screwing up his courage
for weeks past TO disclose the unpleasant
news that, in consequence of some foolish
speculatious which he ought never to have
embarked npon, he owed considerable sun,
of money. If he had only taken his wife
into his confidence at the commencement of
his difficulties, 1t is possible that, by means
of her shrewd common sense, backed by
rigid economy in domestic expenditure, he
might have found himself 10 much less
desperate position at tina present moment.
But, chiefly from the desire to conceal his
folly, he had never given her a hint of his
troublesome secret, and little Mrs. Bender
had not the slightest idea that nything was
wrong. Jack was too honest and simple
minded man to be very worldly wise, aud,
consequently, his efforts TO retrieve himself
had only resulted in further embarrassments.
The only expsdient that occurred to him was
borrowing money from the Jews at an exorbi-
tant rate Of interest, and It is, therefore, not
| surprising that his anxisties had increased
day by day. At length the fatal crisis had
| arrived when his creditors patience was px-
hausted, and that very morning Mr.. Lazarus
had intimated to him through his lawyer
that unless the debt was paid by 2o'olock
that afternoon the long threatened writ
Of execution would be Immediately put into
force.
| to avert this dreadful calamity, IL was evil
den. that further concealment was out Of the
question, and he had, therefore, resolved Ia
break the sad intelligence to his wife imme
diately upon his arrival home. Perhaps his
unwillingness to perform this unpleasan,
task may have had something to do with
the unusually late hour of his return
though, to do him Justice, he had been fully
occupied during the day in running aboui
all over the town endeavoring to raise SUN
cient money from his friends 10 obtain from
Mr.. Lazarus the indulgence Of few days
respite. All his efforts, however, had beer
futile, even though, In his desperation, hs
had spent some hours In hunting for dis
tant cousin, 10 whom he had written a pa
thetic appeal some days previously. This
cousin had Just returned from Queensland
after an absence Of over twenty years, and
as be had left this country when Jack ws'
quite boy It was hardly likely that h,
would take the slightest interest In hii
affairs. But poor J ick, in his infatuation
had gathered wild hops from the equivoca
fact that no reply had been vouchsafed I,
his letter. Taking comfort from the delusiv,
| adage that silence msans consent, Jack has
laboriously traced his cousin from the hote
at which he had first stayed to his pressn
abode, only TO find that he had left towi
some days previously, without msntionin,
his destination. After this Jack had com.
straight home, utterly weary aud broken
hearted, and had his wife been at hand I,
greet him as usual, he would. no doubt
have carried out his Intention OF telling bel
everything.
But his wife's absence, coupled with tn
news which he had learned from the ser
wants that no emissary from Mr.. Lazaru
had appeared to disturb the tranquility o
the household, braced up Jacks nerve
wonderfully anl enabled him to do fair jus
tios 10 his solitary meal. As he glance,
round the cossy room, which looked gay will
holly and Christmas decorations, the idea oc
ourred TO him that perhaps even Mr.. Lazarus
was human aud had refrained from carryin
out his threat until after Christmas Day ha
passed. Such kindly forbsarancs, Jacl
thought, would almost reconcile him to hi
creditors harshDess, especially AZ he woul,
be spared the pain of poisoning the happi
ness Of his poor wife aud children on tn,
one day in all the year which should be
day Of peace aud innocent enjoyment, an
Jack felt that, relieved from absolute neces
sity, II would be nothing short of virtuou
action on his part to keep his secret until a
least the day after tomorrow.
But, alas poor Jack 8 apprehensions wer
suddenly aroused to the highest pitch by a
ominous ring at the street door bell, whic
somehow or other seemed TO reverberate I
his heart. Impelled by an Irresistible in
pulse, hs started from his seat and opens
the hall door before the servant had time |
answer the summons. As he did so
shabby individual with small carpet-ba
In his hand thrust himself inside the thresl
old, aud jacks heart sank into his shoe